Base construction for chairs, couches and the like



Oct. 31, 1961 L. s. SINYKIN ETAL 3,006,629

BASE CONSTRUCTION FOR CHAIRS, COUCHES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 9, 1958 mu /mes 100/5 j kvy/mv 44 EX C (74 SEN TTOENFXS United States Patent Ofifice 3,065,629 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 3,006,629 BASE CONSTRUCTION FOR CHAIRS, COUCHES AND THE LIKE Louis S. Sinykin and Alex C. Olsen, Minneapolis, Minn,

assignors to Levin Bros., Inc., Minneapolis, Minn, a

corporation of Minnesota Filed Sept. 9, 1958, Ser. No. 759,944 Claims. (Cl. 26799) This invention relates to a base construction for furniture, and more particularly relates to a base spring and back spring construction for upholstered type furniture such as lounging chairs, divans, davenports, couches and the like. This also is applicable to all types of seating such as transportation and also is for all types of sleeping equipment such as mattresses, box springs and dual purpoe sleeping and seating equipment.

An object of our invention is the provision of a new and improved base construction which is simple and inexpensive and may be readily and easily produced and assembled.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a novel base construction for upholstered furniture such as chairs wherein the spring construction is so arranged as to facilitate assembly of the springs apart from the chair construction and as to permit rapid assembly of the spring construction with the frame structure of the chair.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an improved and novel spring construction in the form of insert units applicable into a chair base construction and adapted to be physically related to each other so as to provide resilience for movement in substantially any direction, upwardly and downwardly, forward and back, and sideways in both directions and to further permit flexing of a portion of the spring construction without materially moving other portions thereof.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a new and novel base construction for upholstered furniture such as chairs, couches and the like, wherein preassembl'ed spring units or modules are so constructed and related to each other as to prevent sagging of any portion of the overall base construction including the springs, and so as to permit certain portions of the spring construction to be flexed while the other portions remain unl'lexed so as togive firm support.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the base construction with certain portions of the spring construction being broken away to make the bottom convolutions of the coiled springs and the associated structure clear in detail;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken on a vertical plane as indicated: at 2'2 in Fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view similar to FIG. 2 and showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

The base construction is indicated in general by numeral and includes a rigid, rectangular frame or supporting structure 11 which, in the form shown, is constructed out of hardwood and may'have legs 12 affixed thereto; A- rectangular sheet of webbing 13, which may be constructed of burlap or jute is provided with a stiff reinforcing wire' 14 in the hemmed edge portion 13a thereof, and the wire 14 extends around all four sides of the sheet-13; It will be noted that the sheet of jute 13 is somewhat smaller in its dimensions than the frame 11. One side portion 13b of the sheet of jute is affixed as by tacks 15 or other suitable fasteners, to the front side of the frame 11, corresponding to the front side of the chair or other piece of furniture being constructed. The other three sides of the sheet of jute 13 are secured to the corresponding sides of the frame 11 by means of a plurality of spaced coiled springs, and each of the springs 16 has one end hooked around the wire 14 and the other end of the spring is attached to a strap 17 which is afiixed as by nails or screws to frame 11.

It will be noted that a border of burlap overlies the springs 16 and is connected to the sheet 13 and to the frame 11. This border of burlap is quite loose to perrnit limited movement of the sheet 13 with respect to the frame.

The spring construction, indicated in general by numeral 18 is applied, in this form of the invention, to the sheet of jute 13, and the spring construction includes a plurality of assembled spring units or modules, each of which is indicated in general by numeral 19. In the form shown in the drawings, the base construction 10, which is designed for use in an upholstered lounging chair for one person, a pair of the springs units 19 are employed. However, it should be specifically under stood that when the invention is used in connection with a base construction for davenports, couches and the like, a multiplicity of such spring units 19' will be used. The spring units 19 shown in the drawings are identical with each other and are interchangeable. Each of the spring units 19 includes a plurality of hour-glass, or double cone coiled springs 20 which are arranged in a plurality of spaced rows 21 of springs, wherein, the springs 20 in each row are positioned in upright position and in side-by-side relation with each other so that the upper and lower convolutions of the springs 20 in each row engage each other. Because of the arrangement of the springs 20, each of the units or modules 19 assumes an elongate shape which is oriented in a fore-and-aft direction with respect to the overall base construction 10.

Each of the elongate units 19 is provided with a plurality of helicals or helical springs 22 and 23 respectively disposed adjacent the top and bottom convolutions of the coiled springs 20 and extending across the several rows 21 of coiled springs and along the sides of the top and bottom convolutions and looped therethrough. The helical springs 22 and 23 have elongate and substantially linear, resilient stay wires or stiffening wires 24 and 25 respectively, extending longitudinally therethrough, throughout the entire length thereof. The end portions of the helical springs 22 and 23' and of the spring wires 24 and 25 are all bent back upon themselves so as to be secured in stationary relation with respect to the coiled springs 20. It wil be noted that the helical springs and stay wires therein tie the adjacent coiled springs 20 together in each row and provide a hinging effect between the top convolutions of adjacent springs, and the helical springs and stay wires also tie adjacent rows 21 of the coiled springs together so as to maintain the rows of coiled springs in predetermined spacings and in substantially stationary relation with respect to each other.

It will be noted that the helical springs 23 engage and lie on the sheet of jute 13 so as to spread out the downward forces applied through the coiled springs 29 over a larger surface area of the sheet of jute. In addition, the lower helical springs 23 and the corresponding stay wires 25 also perform the same functions for tying the coiled springs 20 and rows 21 of springs together as are performed by the corresponding helical springs and stay wires at the top of the units.

The construction of each of the units is substantially identical at the bottom and at the top, and the construction of each unit at the opposite ends thereof is substan- 3 tially identical, thereby facilitating application of the units onto the sheets of jute 13 without particular regard as to the precise position thereof with the exception, that the units 19 must be oriented in spaced and parallel relation to each other.

It should be pointed out that although neither of the units 19, which are shown in the drawings, are provided with helical springs and stay wires at the outside edges thereof, it is definitely contemplated that in the construction of elongated pieces of furniture such as davenports, couches and the like, the spring units which will be disposed intermediate the end units, such as the center unit in a series of three units, will be provided with helical springs at each of the sides thereof as well as down the center between the coiled springs 20 of each row, so as to tie the rows 21 of coiled springs together at each end thereof as well as at points intermediate the ends of the rows 21.

When the spring units or modules 19 are applied to the sheet of jute 13 in the desired spaced relationship with each other, as shown in FIG. 1, the bottom or lowermost convolutions of each of the coiled springs 20 are secured to the jute by means of a plurality of fasteners or clips 26, and the bottom convolutions of the coiled springs 20 disposed adjacent the front edge of the sheet of jute 13, are additionally secured to the frame 11 as by staples 27. A rectangular and relatively stiff, but resilient frame wire 28 is positioned around the outer periphery of the combined spring units 19 and the frame wire 28 is secured to the upper convolutions of the outside coiled springs 20 by means of clips 29. A pair of diagonal, stiff, but resilient bracing wires 30 are disposed at the opposite sides of the spring construction and are secured at the rear corners of the frame wire 28 as by clips 3dr: and are secured at the front of the frame 11 as by staples 30b to limit the fore-and-aft swaying movement of the spring construction.

It will be understood that when the base construction is to be employed in the construction of a chair, a thickness of padding will be applied over the top of the spring units 19, and at the opposite sides of the base construction, the arms of the chair will be formed and of course the back structure is formed at the rear portion of the base structure.

It will be understood that when the base construction 10 is being assembled, the application of the springs thereto in the form of units 19 substantially increases the speed with which the base construction can be assembled. The units or modules 19 may be preassembled in quantity, and because of their interchangeability, the units 19 may be quickly applied in the proper arrangement without regard to which portion of the units is the top or bottom or without regard to which end of the units is to be positioned in a certain location. The units 19 will be merely disposed in spaced relation with each other and secured to the sheet of jute or burlap 13.

The stay wires 24 and 25 which extend through the helical springs 22 and 23 prevent permanent deformation of the helical springs 22 and 23 so that the base construction retains its desired shape over an extremely long period of time. Substantially any load that is applied through the padding to the spring construction will be distributed by the helical springs 22 and stay wires 24 over a number of coiled springs so as to firmly support the load, and it will be noted that if the load is supported in only one of the units, the other uni-t will give firm support to the remaining portions of the padding and upholstery and will prevent sagging thereof. The spring construction provides resilience in several directions, and more specifically in up and down directions, fore-and-aft directions, and sidewise and in both directions.

The form of the invention shown in FIG. 3 is very similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the upper portions of the spring units are substantially identical. In the form shown in FIG. 3, the bottom stay wires 25 extend forwardly to the front of the frame 11 and are aflixed thereto as by staples 31'. The stay wires 25' extend beyond the rearmost row 21' of coiled springs 20 and are bent back upon themselves to define hook portions 25a. The hooked end portions 25a are connected by means of coiled springs 16' to the other side of the frame 11 by means of the straps or brackets 17'. In this form of the invention, helical springs 23 and stay wires 25' are provided at each side of each of the coiled springs 20 so as to provide adequate support for the spring units 19. Coiled springs similar to 16' may be provided at the outside edges of the units for securing the outside bottom stay wires 25' to the sides of the frame 11'.

It should be specifically noted that the base construction is applicable to both the backs and seating portions of the chm'rs and other types'of furniture. It should further be noted that the present invention is applicable, in addition to the items specifically mentioned herein, to sofas, sectional pieces and other similar furniture, and is also applicable to dual sleeping equipment such as convertible beds, chaises longues and the like, and may also be applied to box springs, mattresses etc. In addition, the present invention may be applied in other seating constructions such as folding chairs for theatres and the like, and other chairs and seats such as those used on trains, buses, planes and the like.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A base construction for chairs, divans and the like, comprising a rigid generally rectangular frame having opposite sides and also having ends, a spring construction comprising a plurality of separate spring units assembled in side by side spaced relation, with the ends of said units disposed adjacent the opposite sides of the frame, each unit including a plurality of upright coiled springs arranged in a plurality of aligned rows spaced from each other, each row including a plurality of side-by-side coiled springs engaging each other, each unit also including resilient means tying the springs in each row together and also tying the spaced rows of springs together, a frame wire having a generally rectangular shape and enclosing said assembly of side-by-side spring units at the top convolutions of said coiled springs, and said frame wire having opposite sides extending across and between the ends of said spring units, means securing said frame wire to the top convolutions of said coiled springs, and means supporting and connecting the lower convolutions of the springs in said units to said frame.

2. The base construction of claim 1, wherein said resilient means includes a plurality of elongate helical spring extending longitudinally of the unit and across the rows of coiled springs, and each helical spring extending along the contiguous sides of the springs in each row and being looped around the upper convolutions of said coiled springs.

3. The base construction of claim 2, wherein linear stay wires extend centrally through said helical springs, and said helical springs and stay wires have means on the opposite ends thereof for anchoring the same in stationary relations with respect to said coil springs.

4. The base construction of claim 1, wherein said resilient means includes a plurality of helical springs extending longitudinally of the unit and across the rows of coiled springs and being looped through the bottom convolutions of said coiled springs.

5. The base construction of claim 1, wherein said resilient means includes a plurality of elongate helical springs extending longitudinally of the unit and across the rows of coiled springs, and each helical spring extending along the contiguous sides of the springs in each row and being looped around the upper and the lower convolutions of said coiled springs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Goldstein Dec. 25, 1951 Horton et a1 Sept. 9, 1952 Reed June 16, 1953 Petersen Aug. 13, 1957 Richardson Feb. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 26, 1930 

